AGRICULTURAL SECTOR CONTINUES TO GROW

By: DEBBIE-ANN WRIGHT

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Honourable Dr. Christopher Tufton (right), closely examines a pepper seedling, while  pepper farmer, Raymond Sukarloo, looks on. The Agriculture Minister was touring Mr. Sukarloo’s farm located at Nightingale Grove, St. Catherine.

The country’s agricultural industry continues to show increases in food production levels, despite declines in several key sectors.

At the end of the July to September quarter of 2009, both the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries confirmed that agriculture was the leading growth sector in the country. The PIOJ estimated that during the period, the sector grew by as much as 10 per cent overall.  A major achievement of the sector during the period was the gains made in ensuring the country’s food security.

The Ministry reported consecutive periods of expansion when compared to similar periods last year, with 16 per cent in the March quarter, 22.3 per cent for the July quarter and 20.6 per cent in the September quarter. The Ministry is also predicting that the final quarter of 2009 should see further increases in food production.

As a result of increased food crop production, the Ministry reported that up to September, the country imported at least 70 per cent less fresh produce, compared to the similar period last year.

"What it means is that we have been able, working with the farmers in the fields, supported by the Jamaican consumers, to minimise the requirement for foreign exchange to import some of these foods, preserved the economic activity of our farmers in rural Jamaica...and in a number of cases, offered to the Jamaican people what we have always believed and always promoted, a more nutritious option of consuming local foods," Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, said.

Administrative Strengthening

During 2009, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, sought to strengthen its research, productivity and investment promotion capabilities with a restructuring of the Ministry and the announcement of five key appointments. Lieutenant Commander Richard Russell was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Fisheries Agency and Dr. David Lowe, as Project Manager with responsibility for establishment of a post-harvest infrastructure islandwide, under the newly formed Agri-Invest Corporation.

 Dr. Derrick Deslandes was seconded to the Ministry from the University of the West Indies, to head its Centre for Excellence for Advanced Technology in Agriculture, which will set the agricultural research agenda. Also, Dr Marc Panton was appointed Chief Technical Director, overseeing the activities of the Ministry’s Research and Development, Plant Quarantine and Veterinary Services Division and the Fisheries Agency, while Patrick Lawrence was named as Special Advisor assigned to the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA).

The year 2009 was one in which the Ministry stepped up many of its activities, introducing several important initiatives. In addition to the Productivity Programme, the Ministry undertook a comprehensive re-organisation of its marketing services, to assist farmers in addressing problems with sourcing markets for their produce.

Production and Marketing Organisations (PMO’s)

With the renewed focus on marketing and production, RADAstepped up its registration of farmers and organised them into approximately 826 Production and Marketing Organisations (PMOs) across the island.

The gains made in agricultural output have been credited in large part to the PMOs. Under the programme, launched by the Ministry over a year and a half ago, crops critical to feeding the country were identified and training was provided to targeted farmers regarding best practices.

The PMOs are community-based organisations which facilitate easy access by farmers to vital information and support, related to best practices and marketing. They comprise groups of farmers at the district level and are responsible for distributing farming inputs channelled through RADA.

President of the United Republic of Tanzania, His Excellency Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete (left), and Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Honourable Dr. Christopher Tufton (right), admire a ‘Black Poll’ bull, during a tour of the Bodles Research Centre in St. Catherine, in November.

To strengthen these PMOs, the Ministry held its inaugural PMO conference and exposition on June 25 at the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium. The one-day event, which was the brainchild of Minister Tufton, was hosted under the theme: 'PMO Farmers working together to feed the nation', and saw more than 4,000 farmers attending.

Guest speaker at the conference, Prime Minister the Hon.  Bruce Golding, told farmers that “marketing involves not just trying to find buyers; it involves improving your product through quality."

More Extension Officers Plus…

The complement of RADA’s Extension Officers was also increased, with the addition of 60 new appointees. The number brought to 120, the complement of RADA officers, who will provide technical support services to the island’s more than 200,000 farmers to improve the support services, which the Ministry provides to the nation’s farmers through the Authority.

RADA also put in place a toll -free line, which allows farmers to voice their concerns, and make suggestions regarding the production and marketing of agricultural produce. It allows both farmers and the general public to call in to RADA, to provide information on any area of concern regarding production processes.  The Ministry also began publishing the retail and farm gate prices of popular produce, on a weekly basis, to help consumers better plan their budgets. The initiative is intended to increase consumer awareness and highlight disparities to help them make informed choices and better manage spending habits.

With the increases in production levels of agricultural produce, the Ministry became concerned about farmers not reaping the full rewards due to post-harvest waste. There was also a need to ensure that certain produce were available all year round, hence the Ministry embarked on several projects to improve post-harvest infrastructure across the island, especially for certain key crops. Among the areas on which the Ministry focused were reaping, warehousing or storage, grading and sorting, value-added processing, marketing and distribution.

One such project was the construction of three pepper mash facilities in the parishes of Clarendon, St. Elizabeth and St. Mary at an estimated cost of $80 million. These facilities are expected to support the Government’s major pepper expansion programme through the processing of hot peppers for the condiments market.

Dr. Tufton also announced plans to open a yam packaging facility in Wait-A-Bit, Trelawny.  "We are working on establishing banana ripening houses in the parishes of St. Mary, Portland and St. James. We are currently upgrading the Kingston packaging facilities, including restoring the storage house, and that is to be launched soon," Dr. Tufton added, at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Hounslow Packing and Post Harvesting  Facility in St. Elizabeth, in October.

Rice Production

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Honourable Dr. Christopher Tufton (right), examines some rice grains while in the field at the Amity Hall Rice Project, in St. Catherine, on July 6. With the Minister are Project Manager, Mr. Richard Sadler (centre), and President of the Jamaica Broilers Group Limited, Mr. Christopher Levy.

The struggle to boost food security and lessen the country’s reliance on imported foods also resulted in the country reaping its first rice crop grown under the Amity Hall Rice Project in St. Catherine. The 25-acre rice field was planted in January under a project spearheaded by the Ministry, in collaboration with the Jamaica Broilers Group.                     

The project was undertaken following spiralling prices of grains on the world market last year. It aims to find economically viable ways of producing rice for local consumption and reduce reliance on imports.
“Over the next year, it is our intention to put another 200 hectares of rice into production….we have already recruited some 70 farmers from the traditional rice-growing areas. We are starting to do an assessment of rice-growing areas and we intend to carry on to the next phase, where we provide them with the materials and best practices," Dr. Tufton informed, at the reaping of the first crop.

Enhancement Projects

The country’s food security was further strengthened with the opening of a new Molecular Biology Laboratory, at the Veterinary Services Division of the Ministry this year.

 Dr. Tufton, who officially opened the laboratory, said the facility will help with the detection of genetic diseases and diseases of an infectious nature, caused by micro-organisms. The Ministry also opened its Centre of Excellence at the Bodles Research Station, in St. Catherine. The Centre is geared to become the nexus for regional and international co-operation on agriculture.

Another project aimed at enhancing food security by boosting production was the Dairy Herd Recording Programme, to assist farmers in selecting the best milk-producing cattle in their herds. The recording programme will help to increase milk production in Jamaica by allowing for the collection and processing of production data to register peaks, consistency, changes and trends that influence herd efficiency, which will guide farmers in selecting the best milk producers.

New Policies

In 2009, the Ministry also launched its HIV/AIDS Workplace Policy, joining the list of Government and private sector organisations that have taken a stand against HIV/AIDS discrimination in the workplace. The programme, through a collaborative and culturally sensitive approach, is committed to reducing the incidence and impact of HIV and AIDS.

Another important policy drafted by the Ministry during the year was the National Plant Health Policy, which is intended to mitigate and avoid pest incursions, protect the health of people, plants, food supplies and livelihood, and save the country millions of dollars in the process. This adds to other measures being undertaken, and policies that have been amended to protect Jamaica’s agricultural sector and ecosystems, including the newly drafted Fisheries policy.

Fifth Hemispheric Forum

In October, Jamaica played host to the fifth hemispheric forum on Agriculture and Rural Life in the Americas and the 15th regular meeting of the Inter-American Board of Agriculture. The conference concluded with delegates signing a 16-point agreement, which sets out an action plan to boost agricultural production in the region.

Addressing a press conference immediately following the signing ceremony at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Montego Bay, St. James, Dr. Tufton said that the agreement dubbed: 'The Ministerial Agreement Jamaica 2009', addressed critical points "relating to a commitment to take a particular course of action within the hemisphere and in respective countries to boost food security, as well as to promote development in rural life."

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Honourable Dr. Kenneth Baugh (centre), makes a comment to Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Honourable Dr. Christopher Tufton (right), during the closing ceremony for the fifth Hemispheric Forum of Ministerial Delegates on Agriculture and Rural Life in the Americas, at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, in Montego Bay, in October. At left is the outgoing Director General of the Inter-American Institute for Co-operation on Agriculture, Dr. Chelston Braithwaite.

Dr. Tufton explained that the agreement covers areas such as: production of more and better foods; diversification of the food basket; investing in building capacity and infrastructure in storage and food processing; plant and animal health and food safety; soil and water management; land titling; risk management; agricultural emergencies; and the development of value chain activities, among others.

The four-day meeting was attended by some 300 delegates from 34 countries across the Americas.

Some Challenges

Despite the successes experienced by the Ministry during 2009, the sector grappled with several challenges which in some instances hampered agricultural production.

In the middle of the year, farmers in and around Pedro Plains in St. Elizabeth were affected by an infestation of the beet army worm, which destroyed 37.5 hectares of escallion in the area.

In response, officials from the St. Elizabeth Parish Office of RADA demonstrated and recommended practical ways farmers could protect their fields. The affected farmers were also given assistance to replant their crops.

Praedial larceny continues to pose a challenge for farmers. Chief Technical Director  Dr. Marc Panton informed that the value of praedial larceny last year was $5 billion or six per cent of the entire agricultural industry.

However, Dr. Tufton said a praedial larceny co-ordinator would be appointed by the end of the year. "That person is going to be charged with the co-ordination and implementation of a series of initiatives, which we have developed, to look at the problem of praedial larceny, and come up with a number of recommendations to address the problem," Dr. Tufton said.

The ongoing drought conditions also posed a threat to agricultural production with Jamaica’s bread basket parish, St. Elizabeth, being one of the most severely affected parishes.

Sugar Divestment And Targets

Meanwhile, negotiations are proceeding for the divestment of the country's sugar estates and assets. The Government is currently engaged in talks with four shortlisted parties - Energen Development Limited; Fred M. Jones and Company/Seprod Limited; Everglades Farms Limited; and Italian firm Eridania Suisse.

In May, the Government secured an agreement with Eridania to provide a US$15 million partial, pre-shipment facility to fund the 2009/2010 sugar cane crop. This is in exchange for a Government of Jamaica (GoJ) guarantee to supply a minimum of 79,000 tonnes of sugar.  The financing has allowed three estates - Frome, Monymusk and Bernard Lodge - to purchase necessary fertiliser, herbicide, irrigation and other field equipment and materials. This is in addition to 21 mill rollers and various other equipment for the Frome and Monymusk factories to begin sugar production in December.

With sugar production officially on at Frome, Westmoreland, the Minister has expressed confidence that the factory's 2009/10 production targets will be met. He said that this year, the plan is to reap some 480,000 tonnes of cane, about 230,000 tonnes of which would be from private farmers and the rest from the estates, to produce just over 42,000 tons of sugar.

The Ministry of Agriculture has launched a data-sharing system that could lower the price of agricultural produce to consumers.

Dr. Tufton said the sharing of price data through the Jamaica Agricultural Marketing Information System (JAMIS), launched on December 16, would force efficiency throughout the agricultural sector and push farmers to address long-standing problems, such as post-harvest losses.

Pointing out that up to 40 per cent of crops was lost between reaping and harvesting, the Minister said these losses were passed on to the consumer.

"So this (JAMIS) will make farmers take a closer look at things, like post-harvest losses, to see how they can minimise it," he said.

In addition, Dr. Tufton said JAMIS would assist farmers in planning their production and promoting a more transparent marketplace, "by putting buyers and sellers on an equal bargaining basis".

JAMIS is an Internet-based programme which collects, compiles and distributes prices to all the players in the agricultural sector. Consumers can also use this website to compare prices before making purchases